How to Make Excel Spreadsheet Recalculate Real Time Automatically Instead of Pressing F9

by Vee Enne

Microsoft Excel spreadsheets are composed of small blocks called cells. Each cell in a spreadsheet can contain a formula, data or a blank value. Formulas use commands like "SUM" and "COUNTA" to consolidate information or to make calculations and return a value. If your spreadsheet is set up for manual calculations, you must press F9 each time you want to recalculate the formulas. To have the spreadsheet update automatically in real time, you can set it to "Automatic."

1

Open an Excel file in which you'd like to make changes. Click the "Formulas" tab.

2

Click "Calculation Options."

3

Select "Automatic."

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About the Author

Vee Enne is a U.S. Military Veteran who has been writing professionally since 1993. She writes for Demand Studios in many categories, but prefers health and computer topics. Enne has an associate's degree in information systems, and a bachelor's degree in information technology (IT) from Golden Gate University.